Toy automobile.



PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907..

A. c. COOKE. TOY AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28. 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

, A. c. COOKE. TOY AUTOMOBILE. 'APPLIOATIQN FILED NOV; 28. 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADRIAN C. COOKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ACME TOY WORKS, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TOY AUTOMOBILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it-known that I, ADRIAN C. CooKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Toy Automobiles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to improvements in the generalconstruction of toy automobiles; and my primary object is to provide amachine of greatly-improved operation, durability, and compactnesswithout sacrificing cheapness of construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 represents my improved toy automobile, in side elevation, withthe near wheels removed and a portion of the earcasing broken away; Fig.2, a front eTevational view with the steering-gear shown in section toillustrate the manner of mounting the front axle of the machine; Fig. 3,a section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a bottom viewof the power mechanism, the lower portion of the casing removed; andFig. 5, a perspective view of a device for restraining the drive-wheelwhile the motive spring is being wound.

A description of the preferred construction is as follows:

A represents a body of usual construction provided at its rear portionwith journalbrackets a for the rear axle; B, the front axle mounted in asteering-fork I), having a stem 1) journaled in the front portion of thebody A and provided at its upper end with a hori zontal lever b B, thefront wheels; B the rear axle equipped with a fixed drivingwheel B and aloose wheel B C, power mechanism connected with the rear axle, and D awheel-locking device adapted for holding the drive-wheel while themotive spring is being wound. The body A has a dash with arearwardly-curved upper end equipped with a notched segment a, overwhich the lever 6 works, enabling the steering-gear to be set asdesired.

The steering-fork or steering-head 1) comprises a substantiallyhorizontal member equipped centrally with a dependin beari'n b for thecentral portion of the ax e B an also equipped at its ends withverticallyslotted depending guides 6 in which the end portions of theaxle play. Thus the axle'is tiltable about its central bearing in avertical plane, enabling either wheel readily to override any smallobstruction which it may encounter.

The power mechanism C comprises a casing having upper and lower sections0 0, re-

equipped with a crank c and its lower end extending into the casing andequipped with a lateral stud or hook 0 a disk 0 through which the stempasses freely and which is equipped on its lower side with a circularsteel band 0 provided at its lower edge with teeth, the disk and toothedband constituting a large gear; a clock-s ring 0 having its outer ensecured to the disk 0 by means of a pin 0 and its inner end providedwith a slot engaged by the hook c on the stem 0 a pin ion 0 secured onthe shaft B and meshing with the large gear, and a depressible catch 0serving to hold the crank c after the spring has been wound. The crank chas a surface of the top of the rear portion of the automobile-body, andthe spring-catch presents an abrupt shoulder in one direction and anincline in the other direction, so that the crank may be moved freely inone direction, but will have its movement limited in the otherdirection. The casing-sections comprise flanged disks, with the flangesthereof telescopically connected. The upper section may be stationary orit may revolve with the large gear. The lower section has its upturnedflange slotted to admit the axle and provided with ears c bent over thetop of the upper section, thereby supporting the lower section. Thetoothed band a comprises a steel stamping curved into circular form andhaving lugs on its upper edge which extend through perforations in thedisk 0 and are clenched above the disk. The large gear thus formed hasdownwardly-presented teeth and is spaced above the axle properly to engae the pinion on the axle.

The ock .D comprises a wheel-engaging shoe (1, carried by a horizontallever d, which extends through a slot in the left side of the body A andis connected by a pivot d with the bottom of the body, a link (iconnected with the lever cl, and a vertical hand-lever 61 connected by apivot (Z with the inner surspectively; a stem 0 having its upper endhorizontal arm which moves over the upper face of the right side of thebody, the frictional engagement serving to hold the handlever in anydesired position.

The manner of use will be understood Without detailed description. Thewheellook may be applied to the driving-wheel by shifting the hand-leverd rearwardly. The spring of the motive power may be wound by turning thecrank to the right, the catch 0 yielding to permit passage of the crankin the winding operation. When the driving-wheel is released by swingingthe hand-lever d forwardly, the spring, which is the connecting mediumbetween the stem 0 and large ear, will drive the large gear, and thusprope the vehicle through the medium of the pinion, rear axle, and fastwheel. In case either front wheel encounters an obstruction it willreadily override the same, owing to the oscillating axle, thuspreventing stoppa e and the running down of the spring due to slippageof the driving-wheel. After the spring unwinds the inner end slips offthe hook or catch with which the post 0 is provided, thereby permittingthe machine to be carried forward under its acquired momentum withoutwinding the spring in the opposite direction, and

thereby retarding the movement ofg the machine. When the spring isrewound, however, the inner end at once catches on the hook, so that itis held securely. I

It will be understood that the drivin mechanism is applicable to anyself-propelled machine, whether an automobile or a selfpropelled boat,and the driving-shaft may constitute the axle, as shown, or anyequivalent element.

Changes in details of construction are contemplated. Hence no unduelimitation should be understood from the foregoing detailed description.

WVhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a toy automobile, the combination with a front axle, of asteering-forkhaving a central bearing in which the axle may oscillatevertically and having vertical guide-slots for r the end portions of theaxle, substantially as and for the purpose setgforth.

ADRIAN O.-COOKE.

In presence of L. HEISLAR, 1 E. P. RIoH.

